The owners of a growing restaurant group are expanding and building their next Brunch Cafe and Meat & Potato Eatery locations on Rand Road just a couple of miles apart.

The establishments are expected to open in July or August, said co-owner Andy Zatos. Brunch Cafe is at 20393 N. Rand Road near Uncle Julio's in Kildeer and Meat & Potato is at 927 S. Rand Road near the driver's services facility in the Deerpath Commons shopping center.

This will be the seventh location for Brunch Cafe, a growing family chain specializing in breakfast and lunch. The 10-year-old chain opened its first eatery on Feb. 20, 2008, in Fox River Grove. Other establishments operate in St. Charles, Roselle, Huntley, McHenry and most recently in Niles, where the restaurant opened Jan. 2.

Pancakes, omelets, Belgian waffles, crepes and French toast are represented on the breakfast list. The same holds for lunch dishes, where the lineup includes multiple entree salads, burgers, wraps, paninis and assorted sandwiches.

"There has been a lot of demand for the brand," Zatos said. He pointed to creativity in the menu and "exceptional customer service" as the reason the chain has been able to expand. "Our food is great and we have that personal touch," he said of the brunch locations that typically seat about 160 people. The catering aspect of the company has been growing as well. "We do a lot of parties and corporate events," he said.

Zatos, of Addison, operates the brunch restaurants with his brother, Ted, and his brother-in-law Peter Revel and his cousin George Reveliotis.

When the partners decided to grow and open the Meat & Potato concept, they brought on Colin Hagerty to assist. "We're the five amigos," Andy said with a laugh.

Meat & Potato Eatery is a fast-casual restaurant that offers dine-in seating for about 100, carry out, delivery and catering options, and also a drive-through lane. Customers often call in for a dinner and pick it up at the window on the way home. The first one of its kind opened a year ago in McHenry and another recently opened in Carpentersville.

The menu features a variety of foods, including its specialties, which are the M & P Bowls. The bowls have various items such as chicken, chili or gyros, served over french fries. The food also can be served over other types of potatoes, including mashed, or vegetables.

In addition to the bowls, the restaurant serves other separate meat and potato options as well as vegetables and salads. Some popular items so far, Hegarty said, have been the restaurant's kebabs, meatloaf and pot roast.

The owners say they are opening additional locations in Cary and Addison. The Addison location will be a combo store and also include Brunch Cafe, Zatos said.

He added that his restaurant group employs about 350 workers.

Zatos said he regularly receives requests to expand to additional towns located near customers who are traveling to the restaurants. "It's a nice feeling. Our customers have integrated us into their lifestyle."

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